Sri Lanka vs. Afghanistan: Sadeera Samarawickrama displays amazing anticipation to pull off a spectacular catch

Afghanistan and Sri Lanka are actively participating in the sole test of their ongoing multi-format series. Starting on February 2, both teams competed at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo. On the first day of the match, both sides played a hard match, and Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Sadeera Samarawickrama gave the crowd a masterclass.

Rahmat Shah, an Afghanistan batsman, presented SL with significant challenges throughout the first innings of the match. Shah’s knock, for which he scored 91 runs off of 139 deliveries, proved vital to Afghanistan. But Prabath Jayasuriya’s delivery and the presence of wicketkeeper Sadeera Samarawickrama were what allowed SL to remove the established batsman.

The wicketkeeper caught the ball with remarkable agility and lightning-fast intuition, anticipating Rahmat Shah’s strike well in advance. In addition, Shah was disqualified when the on-field umpire spoke with the third umpire to affirm the decision.

WHAT AN EFFORT, SAMARAWICKRAMA pic.twitter.com/hR0UiZeYIN

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 2, 2024

Sri Lanka is up by 212 runs.

Regarding the match, Afghanistan scored 198 runs in the match’s opening innings. Vishwa Fernando led all Sri Lankan bowlers in wickets taken with four, and Asitha Fernando and Prabath Jayasuriya were close behind with three each.

With the intention of reducing the lead, SL performed incredibly well at bat. Nishan Madushka and Dimuth Karunaratne, who each scored 37 and 77 runs to start the innings, respectively.

In addition, Dinesh Chandimal scored 107 runs, and Angelo Mathews scored 141 runs in 259 deliveries. As the second day of play came to a close, Sri Lanka had amassed 410 runs in the first inning and led by 212 runs.

As the third day draws near, Sri Lanka will look to extend their lead after dropping six wickets at 410 runs. On day two, Afghanistan’s top wicket-takers were Qais Ahmad and Naveed Zadran, who each claimed two wickets. Nijat Masood also claimed a single wicket.